114
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2024/25
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<!-- IF YOU COPY FROM THIS EDITING VIEW, YOU NEED TO USE THIS TEMPLATE (* TRANSFORMS INTO BULLET, ''' MAKE IT BOLD):*''' Start Date to Finish Date (use Format YYYY-MMM-DD) / Duration in Days / Hiking or <span style="background-color:aqua;">Packrafting </span> / Travel Direction (SOBO for Southbound or NOBO Northbound) / Chosen Route and/or Option Name (RR for Regular Route) / Names or Alias'''--><nowiki>* '''</nowiki>'''Start Date to Finish Date (use Format YYYY-MMM-DD) / Duration in Days / Hiking or <span style="background-color:aqua;">Packrafting</span> / Travel Direction (SOBO for Southbound or NOBO Northbound) / Chosen Route and/or Option Name (RR for Regular Route) / Names or Alias'''<nowiki>'''</nowiki>
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* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''YYYY-MMM-DD / X days / Packrafting / SOBO / RP / Your name'''</span>
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<nowiki>* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''</nowiki><span style="background-color:aqua;">'''YYYY-MMM-DD / X days / Packrafting / SOBO / RP / Your name'''</span><nowiki>'''</span></nowiki>.
=Overview=
=Section Log, Alerts and Suggestions=
==Season 2024/25==
*'''2025-MAR-21 to 2025-MAR-23 / 2 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + OH (Var. 02) / Ivan, Jakub, Daniel'''
A simple section where you won’t avoid the crowds of tourists from El Chaltén, but the absolutely stunning views make up for it.
We chose variant 02, which seemed more attractive to us, and we didn’t regret the detour at all. Laguna Piedras Blancas is beautiful and wild. From the junction at km 1.2, we didn’t follow the trackfiles but took a trail along the creek instead. Initially, it’s a well-trodden, marked trail, which you eventually need to leave. Then, you follow a weakly marked trail, where navigation depends on cairns, making it more CC than TL. The detour to Laguna Piedras Blancas involves scrambling over large boulders.
On the entire variant 02, we didn’t meet anyone until we reconnected with the trail from Lago de los Tres. From that point, the trail becomes heavily frequented. Similarly, expect crowds at Laguna Torre during the day. We, however, timed our arrival for just after sunset. By then, apart from one passing group, there was no one else, and we had the lake to ourselves. It was truly magnificent.
FEES
At the start of variant 02, there’s a booth with a sign stating that the entry fee for one day is 45,000 ARS. In our case (late March), there was no one there.
CHALLENGES
The trail is easy except for the section around Laguna Piedras Blancas on variant 02, which involves challenging scrambling over large boulders. There’s even a sign along the trail warning that it’s a dangerous area and that entry is at your own risk.
BIVOUACING
You can camp for free right at the start near the Argentine border control.
We camped at a spot under trees at the coordinates -49.08736, -72.89699 (km 12.3). It’s a great spot, and we highly recommend it.
Near Piedras Blancas, there’s a small flat area suitable for one tent at the coordinates -49.26553, -72.95429.
The campsites near Laguna Torre looked decent, though we didn’t use them.
WATER
There’s plenty of water along the trail, though it’s often with glacier flour. Your filter will suffer!
RESUPPLY
As far as we know, there’s no resupply option near the border control at the beginning of the section. However, on the other side of the lake (km 11.6), there’s a restaurant.
At the end of the section, in the tourist trap of El Chaltén, everything is incredibly expensive, and the selection is fairly limited, but you can resupply well enough. We combined resupplies from the supermarkets Lo de Lourdes (-49.3254052, -72.8916425) and Supermercado Chaltén (-49.3307613, -72.8857952), which seemed to us the best-stocked.
We also briefly visited Supermercado Pachamama on the main square (-49.33318, -72.88383), which we found to be the worst option.
Most outdoor shops in El Chaltén sell gas canisters.
'''2025-MAR-10 to 2025-MAR-12 / 2.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR, Laguna Sucia/ Nimrod & Tamar
'''
Nothing much to add. We hiked RR and did not meet any rangers.
It took us a full day taking a taxi from Candelario Mancilla, hiking to the border and along Laguna Desierto.
We hitchhiked from Laguna Desierto at 18:00.
We hiked on the RR and camped at (-49.153433,-72.567564).
Next day we hiked to Laguna Sucia and camped by Laguna Torre. Sunrise in Torre was amazing.
Next day we hiked to El Chalten, resupplied and went on to section 40.
* ''' 2025-MAR-10 > 12 / 2,5 jours / Randonnée / SOBO / RR > 39-02 > 39-B > RR > <strike>39-E</strike> > RR / Pierre-Marie '''
Etape : GPT37+GPT38+GPT39
| Meteo : soleil
| Eau : facile
| Neige : non
| Intérêt : 5/5
| Difficulté : 3/5
| Danger : péages, touristes, torrent impassable
Le sentier le long du lac est un peu humide mais il est très bien entretenu. J'ai marché 4 km sur la gravel road puis un couple d'argentin super gentil m'ont emmené directement au km 31,7 au départ du sentier. Le péage était désert alors je suis passé sans payer direction le glacier Marconi 39-02. Après le camp du km 6,7 il faut passer au nord de la colline, le long du torrent. Globalement il faut utiliser son GPS, il y a des cairns et un marquage mais ça ne suffit pas. J'ai campé ici (-49.2126854, -73.06602) ça protège du vent dominant mais attention il y a des courants d'air. Le point de vue est ici maintenant (-49.2127844, -73.0944228) car le glacier a bien reculé. La glace tombe même sous nos yeux. Les sentiers 39-B (El Chaltén - Lago de los Tres) et RR (El Chaltén - Laguna Torre) sont saturés de touristes, ça ralenti vraiment le rythme. J'ai essayé de faire le sentier 39-E mais le torrent est totalement infranchissable près du lac. Il faut soit utiliser la tyrolienne au début du torrent, soit le franchir 1km plus bas puis passer dans le bois (bush-bashing). Le courant est très rapide, l'eau est totalement trouble, il y a des blocs de glace qui passent. Comme il fallait revenir par le même chemin je n'ai pas essayé, estimant le risque beaucoup trop important. Je ne comprend pas comment ce trail a pu être validé sans pont ni ford alors que même moi je n'arrive pas à traverser en fin de saison. J'ai continué vers El Chaltén. Attention ils ont un vrai probleme avec la CB et veulent tout le temps du liquide, et pas de liquide Chilien... Cependant j'ai pu faire mes courses avec ma CB.
'''28Fev2025 - 1Mar2025 / hiking NOBO / RR - varB OH1 - RR / 2 days / Lilian and Clara'''
No park ranger at begining of RR trail to Laguna Torre.
Easy trail overrun ++, we decided to skip laguna torre.
We went to laguna sucia and loved it, very majestic.
Camp at laguna piedras blancas, nice view on the glaciar and fitz roy at the end of the trail but crazy wind. Some good wind sheltered spots for tent under huge rocks (one very good and even rain protected).
Trail on OH1 is close but still easy to follow, no one there and really nice.
No park ranger at rio electrico around 11am.
It took us 30sec to get a ride to the lake at the end of the morning.
There you have 1h free wifi that is good. Several solutions to eat (foodtruck and restaurant, minimarket with mostly drinks and sweats). possibility to pay by card.
Boat going to north side of the lake several time per day (except no boat on monday), 40k ARG.
Trail to north side along the lake is easy.
Camp at the Argentinian border campsite : water, toilets and awsome view on lake + fitzroy.
'''2025-Feb-21 to 2025-Feb-22 / 2 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + Option 2 + variant B + Laguna Sucia + variant C / Sean & Neele'''
Trail along Lago Desierto is nice and straight forward. We hitched the road to the start of Option 2. There's a ticket booth with the new park fees near the start however it was closed in the afternoon. We found somewhere hidden in the forest to camp.
The rest was all straight forward. Didn't see anybody at Laguna Piedra Blancas, Lago De Los Tres was very busy as expected, Laguna Sucia was much quieter but still a few people. We took variant C to El Chalten as the weather looked bad the following day, very easy trail lots of tourists.
*'''2025-Feb-04 to 2025-Feb-05 / 1.5 days Hiking / SOBO/ RR/ MiaimZelt'''
Day 1: The trail along Lago del Desierto is nice and easy, sometimes a bit wet. When i reached the gravel road it took more than 1h to get a hitch. A friendly couple from Buenos Aires took me. Wanted to continue with the RR, but a sign said "access only for guests of Hotel El Pilar". Was confused and continued some meters on the road and tried to bypass on a gravelroad. But it ended nowhere. Was frustrated and had to backtrack. Found a possibility to bypass Hotel El Pilar on this 4x4 track: -49.235541, -72.932263. It continues to the trail. From there it was easy hiking and at 8pm i pitched my tent hidden in the forest.
Day 2: The official campsites like Poincenot now charge 15.000 ARS (~15US$). In my opinion it's pricey for what you get: a flat spot in the forest and access to a vault toilet without toilet paper.
Went up to Laguna Sucia. Really beautiful, but the trail was suprinsingly technical with a short & very steep ascent and a stretch on big boulders.
It was very easy hiking until El Chaltén. Met tons of people. Missed Laguna Torre, want to do it later with Arno.
* '''2025-Jan-22 to 2025-Jan-23 / 2 / <span style="background-color:aqua;">Packrafting</span> / SOBO / RP + RR + Variant: C + B + new Option/ Roman'''
Route: Started the section directly from GPT38. Started packrafting at Lake, Ferry {39} [0.1/507] (Lago del Desierto) to the other side of the ferry. Hitchhiked from there to El Chaiten. Went on a short one day hike to Viewpoint {39-B} [2.6/1158] (Laguna de los Tres) via a new Option (Laguna Sucia).
Weather: Day one was cloudy with little wind. Day two was clear and sunny until noon after that cloudy.
Details: Started Packrafting at ~14:00 PM. There was a guard who wanted me to put in a helmet (which doesn't make sense for a lake crossing. I had full Packrafting gear (drysuit, life jacket, leash, etc.). Luckily a friend had a helmet i could use. After the guard verified that the weather was good i was allows to go. As pointed out earlier this isn't a official rule it depends on the guard. After starting i experienced the "topical" condiciones on the lake. Basically no wind at the shores (north/south shore) and strongish winds in the middle 20-30 km/h N. All of this can be read in the comments here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D38JiiEhq/ . After 2.25 hours and a average speed of 4.2 km/h. I After i reached the south shore i walked for 5km before I got a lift directly to El Chaiten. It's a busy, touristy and expensive place and I didn't not really enjoyed it.
I went on a fast morning hike the next day to Viewpoint {39-B} [2.6/1158] (Laguna de los Tres). There are 3 entry point where you have to buy a ticket for the national park. They also sometimes check if you have a ticket when you are exiting. The entrance fee can be avoided by 1) enter early in the morning 2) walk around the entry point. The same goes for the way out. You can download the 3 checkpoints at the end. I started in El Chaiten at 03:15 AM and followed variant C from the city center to GPT39-C start and followed the RR north up to GPT39-B end until this point: X {39-B} [0.6/736]. From there I went to Laguna Sucia - i didn't registered/notified anyone for taking this trail even though there was a sign. After that i scrambled my way up to Viewpoint {39-B} [2.6/1158] (Laguna de los Tres) and backtracked the same way via Variant B back to El Chaiten. The route can be downloaded at the end.
Overall: Packrafting Laguna del Desierto was really nice. After that i got way to touristy and crowded for me. I would reccomend continuing as fast as possible and not spending time at El Chaiten or the National Park. The hike to Viewpoint {39-B} [2.6/1158] (Laguna de los Tres) was nice - as I was the only person at Laguna Sucia and I have only met a few people that early in the morning and I was already back around 09:30 AM.
Files (GPX and KMZ /// Track &Additional Markers):
- Checkpoints of the national park & New option: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AqzLweJ3NZW5tJYWBnZnqqOJStEPxQ
Source: https://xn--sealcalafate-bhb.com/contenido/12931/el-lunes-comienza-el-cobro-de-acceso-a-turistas-en-la-zona-de-el-chalten
All tracks are also on Strava and general contact for questions: https://linktr.ee/RundW
* '''Dec 22-23 / OH 39-02 + RR SOBO / wiiiim'''
GPT39 was busy as expected, I hitched a ride from Lago Desierto & entered the park in the afternoon from Rio Electrico on the OH, it has a park toll booth at the start about 200m in, it was closed that rainy afternoon. I camped in some very windy weather at -49.26410, -72.95542 there are several nice well protected rock bivvies, Laguna piedras blancas is a short/nice side trip, I wanted to avoid Poincenot which seems to get absolutely hammered, I was told they will start charging camp fees here very soon? I couldn’t verify this.
Laguna Sucia was a highlight for me, if you’re short on time I would personally pick this over Laguna de los tres
For what it’s worth the new park entry fee system is pretty poorly implemented, it’s currently a sport among back packers to avoid park control booths by starting the trails before 7am. Laguna Torre is still free, so technically you can enter from -49.33148, -72.89532 at any time and hike the RR NOBO without check points, they dont seem to validate inside or at park exits.
==Season 2023/24==
* '''2024-Apr-03 to 2024-Apr-05 / 2.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + OH 1 + B + OSM Trail to Laguna Sucia / Joscha '''
I combined Section 37, 38 and 39. It took me 10.5 days including 2.5 days waiting at Bahia Pescado for the ferry. I left a bag with food in Villa O'Higgins which the ferry brought me. And I could store food at the chilenian Border station. Therefore I never had to cary food for more than 5 days. Day 1: RR [0.0-31.8] + OH39-01 + OH39-B [0.6-0.2] I arrived at the southern end of lago de desierto at noon. I hiked for about 2 hours on the primary road until I got a hitch to the start of OH39-01. Its probably easier to get a hitch in the afternoon. At Laguna Piedras Blancas is a sign that the area around the Laguna is dangerous and it's forbidden to go to the Laguna. The sidetrail to the Laguna is a rock scramble. Because of wind and rain I did not went to the Laguna. But its possible to see the glacier without scrambling up to the Laguna (its also possible to see the glacier from the RR) and the rest of the trail is in good condition as well. I camped at the campsite Poincenot [39.4+0.2]. Day 2: OH39-B [0.2-2.6] + OSM Trail to Laguna Sucia + RR [39.4-49.4] I went up to the Laguna de los Tres for sunrise with about 50 other hikers. The trail is officially closed for the season, but nobody cares. It was a little icy, but doable without spikes. I returned to the campsite Poincenot and went to the Laguna Sucia on the OSM trail. This trail is also officially closed, because it is suposed to be to dangerous. The last few hundred meters to the Laguna is a rock scramble, but in good conditions pretty easy. During the rock scramble you can go on both sides of the river. I liked the southern side a little more, even though the OSM trail is on the northern side. I can really recommend Laguna Sucia. Only few people and in my opinion more impressive than Laguna de los Tres. After that I returned to the RR and went to Laguna Torre. I camped at the Campsite D' Agostini at km 49.4. Day 3: RR [49.4-59.4] Easy walk to El Chalten. * '''2024 Ma 20 to 22 / 3 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Juliette and Martin ''' Day 1 : Argentinian gendarmeria - Punta Sur A small day with only a walk along the lago Desierto. Approximatly 5 hours of walk. Nice points of view on the fitz Roy. We sleeped at the « Hosteria y restaurante Punta sur »… It’s 48 000 argentinian pesos for a two people room with a breakfast included (and it’s allowed us to dry our stuff). There is a camping on the side with a small refuge inside in case of rain for 14 000 pesos per people. Day 2 : Punta Sur - Camp Poincenot We hitchhiked to skip the road to hike less (because of a foot pain). The detour to the Laguna Piedras Blancas worth it, but the ascenption to the lake on huge rock took us à long time, despite the low distance. Camping poincenot was crowded, but we didn’t heard of any mice. Day 3 : camp Poincenot - El Chalten Wake up early to contemplate to sun rise from the Lago los Tres. The ascenption from the camp is an hour long, easy beaucause overrun and the trail is maitained. A lot of people do the same (almost 20 or 30 I would say). It’s really beautiful, espacially if you have a good weather. Walking on the most famous trail around the fitz roy is really différent from the GPT. The trailed arouned Cerro Torre is really easy and overrun. * '''2024-Mar-08 to 2024-Mar-09/ 1.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + Opt 01 + Var B+D / Matthias''' Day 1: Argentine Border Control – near Rio Electrico: Started at the Argentine Border Control at 14:00. (I stayed the night before in Candelario Mancilla, GPT38). It took me 3:45h of straight walking to reach the road on the southern end of the lake. Got a ride from there at 18:15 to the bridge over Rio Electrico. On OSM there was a camping indicated there, which does not exist. Due to the beginning darkness, I camped near the path of Option01 2km from the bridge – very windy night. Day 2: near Rio Electrico - Laguna Piedras Blancas - Laguna de Los Tres - Laguna Torre - El Chalten A very (too) long day due to a bad weather forecast for the following days. Option 1 is very nice though officially closed because in one season there had ocurred 18 accidents and one person dying. (Information of park ranger Miguel at whose house I stayed in ElChalten). Was lucky to see Fitz Roy from Laguna Piedras Blancas!It is very interesting to see how the tourists concentrate to certain hot spots all over the world. On the path to Laguna de Los Tres I “met” probably more people (hundreds) than on my whole 60 day GPT hike before! * '''24-Mar-03 to 2024-Mar-05 / 48 hours / Hiking / SOBO / RR, option 1, new option from Laguna Sucio to Laguna Torre / Tomáš''' I started at 1300 from the carabinieros. The trail to road took me 3 hours (with one 5 minute stop), it is not that horrible with ups and downs but it has its share, with the small ones at the end more unexpected. I wanted to catch a bus that supposedly leaves at 4 as previously noted. I met only one couple hiking one km from the road. How surprised was I by the full carpark (30 cars). The bus apparently leaves at five. I hitched a car instead after 15 minutes. The road seemed busy, maybe it was the Sunday afternoon but one car passed every 3-5 minutes (and there were cars going north too). Got off at start of option 1 - there is enormous parking lot there with maybe 50 cars. I took the option 1 which is supposed to be peopleless. It is, once you reach the X at 2.4. Or earlier, if you take the OSM trail after 1 km signposted to camping Poincenot. Follow that for 500 m and then turn right on a barely used trail. Shortcut the detour by CCing (roughly here:49.2387039S, 72.9553397W) to the left through open forest after cca 400 m on this trail. Once again on the GPT, you will come across a fence - I guess that is why this trail is not much used, it is probably not official. Viewpoint at 6.2 is really worth it - for me it was also the first time I saw Fitz Roy, as it was in the clouds previously. I camped at the turnoff to the viewpoint here: 49.2640959S, 72.9554167W. There is a place for tent but I used a cave-like space under a boulder 15 m upstream - it was big enough to allow me to use the inner part of my tent against the few mosquitoes around. Too small for two though. Not sure what the legal situation is, I heard when caught camping without a permit in the park, they take your gear and you must pay a fine in town. This trail is however rarely used (only signed by cairns), so probably they would not check here [also, sleeping under the lagoon might be dangerous as it could technically collapse at anytime). The next day I did not take variant B to Lago de los Tres. By the way the OSM trail there to Cerro Madsen in reality does not seem to go over glacier but in between them, the glaciars are shrinking (it is marked as SAC 4 which seems about right, looks easily walkable/lightly scramblable), you could also probably cut it from the Lago to Laguna Sucia going through this seemingly waterless valley/gulley: 49.2825930S, 72.9843467W. How do I know these? I went from Laguna Sucia (not on GPT yet, but it is on OSM partly) to Laguna Torre. This is a demanding but very fun and extremely beautiful scramble (at most SAC 5 but I did not exactly always aim for the easiest route), hopefully it will make it to the GPX files for the next season. For now, pictures and GPX link [https://www.facebook.com/groups/222224388283455/posts/1761957234310155/ here]. It goes like this: follow the OSM trail that goes from camping Poincenot to Laguna Sucia and then to Swiss Bivy/la Cueva. Once there, follow the trail a bit more (150 m) to get on top of the cliffy-like part of the slope, where it will be a bit flatter. Scramble horizontally to SE and then to E. The glacier is smaller than on the map - I got to its very end and crossed one of the small gullies near it. Then you traverse for some time on a less steep terrain, until you are roughly under a nameless lake. From there, go up. I took a ridge, which was fun, but easier would be to go up a slope. I got to about 1550 on the ridge that is above the lake from NW. Going down to the lake is a bit less slopy from there. There would be other ways, either going higher over this ridge, or even lower. One could also probably go straight up from the lake, or even with a bit bushbashing approach the lake from NE. At the lake, I met a Swiss couple who slept there. They built a very nice tent space there. This was a coincidence, this does not seem like popular traverse (though I saw a paraglider launch from Loma de las Pizzaras, which had a trail to it on OSM; that is what the Swiss took saying the trail stops 500 m before the peak; from there they went down to a valley south of the peak and over a pass). I went through the pass cca 200 m from Loma de las Pizzaras (which had usable if a bit spotty 4G Claro internet), down a valley and then over a miniscule pass to SW to a lake that is not even on OSM [2024: I since added it to OSM] yet here: 49.3051327S, 72.9861450W - a good camping spot, so I stayed (it was a very sunny calm and reasonably warm day/night), but the place seems more sheltered than the other lake where I met the Swiss. Did not bother to build a windwall, sorry. I met 12 people all day, 7 out of which were climbers lolling about their tents, they camped both just before Laguna Sucio and at the Swiss bivy. Not sure if this is tolerated or you need a permit (or possibly climbing gear). Took me about 4 hours from Swiss bivy to Loma de las Pizzaras. Incredible views, ice kept falling from the glaciers, once even to the lake. Usually the ice is down by the time you hear the rumbling, but I was close enough to watch two falls. Also saw Condors again after a long time. A perfect day and I am out of superlatives describing it; I guess this is what makes some people crazy about Patagonia. Fitz Roy is actually the only place I knew about before coming to Chile after googling "long distance hike in South America" 16 months earlier. The next day I went over a small pass to the west of the lake and then down, roughly aiming for end of variant D. Around 1050 m I crossed a stream (take water from it, there won't be much more) and kept it to my left, graduallly distancing myself from it to maybe 50-100m. There is a way between the greenery that does not involve BBing. Then you reach the forrest, which is open and you end up on the trail. From there to El Chalten, it is a highway (200 people met?), very easy and pretty (autumn is coming), but annoying with people. I do not like El Chalten, going on to GPT40 before the weather turns horrible. * '''2024-Feb-24 to 2024-Feb-28 / 4 days / Hiking / SOBO / option 1 + Laguna Pollone + variant b + variant d / Yannick & Nolwenn''' - Trail condition : easy path to follow- Water : easy to find- Camping spot : poincenot is a nice campsite, camping piedra del fraile doesn't accept card so you need cash- Weather : sunny and cloudy- Resupply : from villa O'Higgins- Overall : amazing section, the views are amazing, really worth it to do the Fitz Roy for the sunrise and leave the tent and bags at the Poincenot campsite * '''2024-Feb-13 / 4 day / Hiking / NOBO / RR / Charlie Gardner''' Not much to add, super straightforward hiking area. Only addition I’d recommend is hiking through Poincenot camp (or staying there) and taking western route that connects with the trail to Lago Piedra Blancas. This section was empty and georgeous. The short hike up the boulder field to the lake is absolutely worth. Piedra del Fraile is an awesome little campsite and Refugio as well. We didn’t go any further North by hiking on this route. * '''2023-Jan-13 / 1 day / Packrafting / SOBO / RR + Option 2A / Tom Pieper''' Not much to add. The free camping at gendarmeria argentina was indeed my most favourite 'official' camping spot of the entire GPT. Amazing view on Mt Fitz Roy in the evening! Talk to the gendarmeria. They might help organize boat transfer with a local farmer even outside the official hours. Tooked the motorboat in the morning, as wind was too strong to cross by packraft. Packrafting Rio de las vueltas was fun. Swift blue river which might a perfect packrafting river for beginners as there are no major obstacles. After every bend new stunning views on Mt Fitz Roy. Bring fishing equipment - a lot of trouts in there. I did not went for the lower part, but easily catched a ride via option 2A. * '''2024-Jan-03 / 1 day / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Stiina & Kris''' We camped by the border control. It was raining all night and still in the morning but we decided to do the hike along Laguna Desierto. Surprisingly it wasn't as muddy and slippery as we expected but of course the streams were pretty big and everything got absolutely soaked during the rain. We reached the other end of the lake in less than three hours and there were lots of cars and tourists there. No phone signal. We started hiking along the road and after 5km got a ride to El Chalten. The ferry doesn't go on Wednesdays, on Thursday it went at 11am from the side of the border control. Not sure of the price. * '''2023-Dec-16 to 2023-Dec-19 / 3.5 days / NOBO / El Chaltén - Lago del desierto / RR/ Alex & Christophe''' It was a well marked section with amazing views. You nearly don't need your gps during the entire section and can enjoy the beautiful landscape. It felt like an easy first section for us. The trail to Laguna torre was full of people but once we turned out of it, it was really ok. The road walking between puente del río electrico and lago del desierto wasn't the most interesting but everything is better with a nice view! *2023 Anh OH-TL-V + RH-TL-V (Lago del Desierto)
OH-TL-V is easy for Gpt hikers. The trails are easy to find. Just for the left trail of Laguna Torre you have to rent Harness to cross river via Tyrolean traverse.
RH-TL-V along Lago del Desierto is easy to hike, official you should plan 6 hours. I just needed 4.5 hours (slow-normal speed) with heavy backpack (10 days food). Alternatively you can pay 55 USD (one way) for the ferry.
==Season 2022/23==
* '''2023-Mar-19 to 2023-Mar-20 / 2 days / NOBO / El Chalten to Paso Fronterizo del Lago del desierto / Jess&Paco'''
Easy and wonderfull section especially the trail from lago Torre to Poincenot Camp passing by Lagos Madre e Hija.
You can by snacks at the camping on the southern shore of Lago del desierto but it is not a good resuply spot.
* '''2023-Mar-23 to 2023-Mar-26 / 4 days / SOBO / Lago del Desierto - El Chaltén / RR + option 1 + variant B / Anna & Christopher'''
What a contrast arriving from the last section without meeting anybody. At the southern end of Lago del Desierto there are lots of tourists. We continued from there around 3 p.m., when people slowly started to come back from their day trips. Our timing proved to be pretty good, because we got a ride after walking for a couple of minutes. There is also a bus to El Chaltén leaving atound 4 p.m. for 3.500 pesos.
When we went up to Laguna Torre the wind still was extremely strong and unfortunately all mountains were covered by clouds, so we quickly continued to El Chaltén.
* '''2023-Mar-7 to 2023-Mar-14 / 2.5 days / SOBO / RR + Option 1 / Lago Desierto - El Chaltén / Ondrej '''
This section offers lot of impressive views of snowy peaks, turquoise rivers and glaciers - if one has the luck of a good weather. If you are going SOBO and want to do the weather-sensitive GPT40 afterwards, one way to reduce potential waiting days is to pause GPT39 once you get across Lago Desierto and hitchhike to El Chalten. This allows you to consult rangers in El Chalten about a good weather window for The Huemul Circuit (GPT40). You can complete the remainder of GPT39 while waiting for the weather window or after you have finished GPT40. I was on a relatively tight schedule and this strategy has worked well for me.
I hitched back to the crossroad (km38.0) few days later and continued with Option 1 (Laguna Piedras Blancas - L. De Los Tres - L. Torre - El Chaltén) with light backpack in a single day as I was short on time. I would prefer to spend at least two days on this portiom, exploring the lagunas further away. Very scenic and mantained trails in general. Easy to jog some parts for those who enjoy trail running.
* '''2023-Feb-17 to 2023-Feb-20 / 4 days / RR / SOBO / also all the optional routes to the various lagunas on the way to El Chaltén / Véronica & Zach '''
Route: Lago Del Desierto - Río Las Vueltas - resupply in El Chaltén - Lagos Eléctrico y Marconi - Lago Piedras Blancas - Lago de los Tres - Lago Torre
We resupplied in El Chaltén that evening, then the next morning hitched back up to Bridge, X {39} [31.7/449], where Option 1 starts. For the next three days, we walked beautiful, well-maintained trails to the lagunas and viewpoints in the vicinity of Monte Fitz Roy. Most of them are out-and-back, and you can easily stash your backpack and walk unencumbered to the glaciers and lakes. Note: Option 39-E requires a harness to cross on a Tyrolean cable, or a burly ford.
* '''2022-Dec-29 to 2023-Jan-01 / Helen and Craig/'''
>Well marked trails. Very busy on sunny days, Incredibly dusty camp sites in high winds (but nicely sheltered)
>To avoid the crowds, the popular miadors we walked to at odd times of day, sunset for the 'sunrise' veiw. Very much Worth it.
* '''2022-Dec-09 to 2022-Dec-11 / 2 half days & 1 full day walking / SOBO / Frank'''
I came from Candelario Mansilla & continued on the trail round Laguna del Desierto the same day. It was slow going around the lake with lots of up & down over bluffs. At the end of the lake I crossed over a bridge (inflow stream for the lake) Just after the bridge there is a restaurant, (closed in the evening), campsite & hut. I stayed in the hut (no beds but in good condition, slept on the wooden floor) From the campsite a trail goes up to Laguna Huemul, about 1 hour up. A worthwhile detour with good views of Glaciar Huemul. Next day I continued on the road then on the trail towards Laguna de los Tres. The high campsite was very busy & noisy so I continued down to Laguna Capri & camped there, better but still noisy. Lots of people on the trail also, a big change to the previous sections. From Laguna Capri I continued easily down to El Chalten. 2 half days & 1 full day walking.
==Season 2021/22==
The campground Ricanor near to Laguna Azul was close for maintenance when I passed there.
* '''2020-Jan-16 / NOBO / Oreste Marquis'''
Two first day were on the regular route. Could not see the Fotz Roy from close because of the cloud but still enjoyable route. I hitchike at the end of the second day and did not walk on the road to Lago del desierto because the camping Ricanor nesr to Laguna Azul was close for maintenance so I camp at the one close to the Lago.
* '''2019-Dec / 2 days / NOBO / Matthieu'''
Trail easy to follow for the parts in the wood before the road. Long road to The Lago Desierto, and a possibility to take a boat on the Lago to join the post of Gendarmeria. The walk by the lake is beautiful though, worth it.
No special difficulties.
* '''2019-Dec-14 / Arnaud et Adriane/xfg'''
It was a very rainy, windy and cold day so we walked to the road 12km (along the lago del desierto) and after 6 km on the road, we finished hitchhiking directly to El Chalten. Everything was covered with clouds so we sadly saw nothing.
* '''2019-Nov-9 / 2 days / Regular hiking route / NOBO / Lea Geibel, Kevin Moe'''
The highlight of this section for us was visiting all the lagunas in the national park! We cheated and hitch hiked along the road when we hit it after El Pilar. It was not difficult to get a car in the morning when tourists are heading out to Lago Desierto; it might be harder to find one northbound in the evening would be my guess. It's necessary to pay to camp at Desierto, 800 Argentinian Pesos each, and it is not allowed to camp along the road.
==Season 2017/18==
*<span style="background-color:aqua;">'''Route description by Kara Davis after Season 2017/18/ fgh:'''</span>
Section GPT39 begins on the northern bank of Lago del Desierto. According to the Gendarmería, the Argentine Border Control, the wind patterns on the lake are unpredictable and shift frequently. There is also no good access to the trail on the east side if bailing becomes a necessity, so have caution when deciding whether to packraft or not.
There is a well-established trail that runs along the east side of the lake. However, it isn’t flat, and the 11 or so kilometers takes longer than expected. There is an option to take a ferry across the lake which is popular with Carretera Austral bicyclers. More information regarding times and prices can be found at the Argentine border control station on the north side of Lago del Desierto.
Alternate: Instead of exiting Río de las Vueltas onto RP23 as shown by the GPS track, we floated the river al the way to El Chaltén and took out just after the bridge crossing east of the town.
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''Comment by Jan Dudeck:'''</span>
To my knowledge packrafting the Rio de las Vueltas all the way to El Chalten requires a permit by the park rangers. Without this permit park rangers might get very nasty and may even confiscate your packraft. So better leave the river before this river enters the national park. Packraft track OP-RI-1@39-02-# only if you have a permit.
=Resupply and Accommodation=
=Permits, Entry Fees and Right-of-Way Issues=
=Links to other Resources=